Sage's Portal, a new tabletop gaming / board game and boba tea cafe opens near Downtown Spokane

 Today is the grand opening for Sage's Portal now open at 611 E. 2nd Suite A, just a few blocks east of Division St. and Downtown Spokane. The new business is a locally owned and operated gaming shop with a cafe inside serving boba tea, pastries and snacks. 

They say the place will be a clean and family friendly environment. The store will also offer a growing board game library available for a small fee and a retail selection of dice and other tabletop gaming accessories. Sage's Portal will celebrate their official grand opening from today (Sat. Oct. 30th) thru Fri. Nov 4th. All week-long customers who buy one boba tea will get the second tea for 50% off. Additionally, they are planning to offer an exciting in-store raffle during the grand opening event.

For further info on Sage's Portal, stop in or check out their website at http://sagesportal.com

Sandpoint's Burger Dock opens second location in Downtown Coeur d' Alene, and you could win free fries for year!

The Burger Dock is kicking off their grand opening this weekend at their new location at the corner of 4th & Lakeside (200 N. 4th) in Downtown Coeur d' Alene. With roots in Sandpoint,ID, The Burger Dock will offer the same hand-crafted burgers, fries and shakes at their new second location. 

A proudly women-owned and operated business- from left to right: Claire Anderson (co-owner), Savannah Pennington (co-owner) and Jessica Teaford (general manager)

The Burger Dock's Grand Opening weekend lasts Thurs. - Sun and will feature a raffle drawing with exciting prizes including- Branded Burger Dock hats, Schweitzer Mtn. day pass plus a $30 gift card to The Burger Dock's original Sandpoint location and a 4-pack of tickets to skate at Coeur d' Alene on Ice. 

Burger option "The Old Tin Can", which is their take on a classic cheeseburger and a tribute to their roots as a food truck in Sandpoint.

All of this, in addition to a grand prize of free fries for a year (one free order per week - all year long), to be entered in the raffle visit and purchase food from The Burger Dock any time throughout the grand opening weekend and follow The Burger Dock on Instagram. For an additional entry, patrons can take a picture of themselves enjoying any menu item at The Burger Dock and tag @theburgerdock in their post. The winner will be announced on Instagram on Tuesday, November 1st.

The Burger Dock has gained local acclaim in Sandpoint for their original burger recipes, fries from hand-cut potatoes, salads, shakes and rotating beers on tap. Menu items are also available for takeout and online ordering, hours are 11a-8p (closed Wed.) and 11a-9p on Fri. and Sat.. The space features modern rustic decor with nautical touches, multiple TVs for sports viewing, plenty of seating and an outdoor patio.

For further information, including a full menu, visit The Burger Dock online at http://www.theburgerdock.com

Indigo Urgent Care to open in new building on Ramsey in Coeur d' Alene

 Multicare's Indigo Health brand is coming soon to Coeur d' Alene, with a new Indigo Urgent Care facility planned. The facility is already under construction now in an all-new building being built next to Starbucks in the Crossroads Coeur d' Alene development off of N. Ramsey Rd and nearby I-90.

Rendering of the completed Coeur d' Alene Indigo Urgent Care, Courtesy of Multicare.

The new Indigo Urgent Care building is 4,400 +/- Sq. Foot structure that the new clinic will occupy entirely with a long-term lease. Meridian Construction is the general contractor for the project with architectural design being done by Architectural Ventures.

Staff photo of the building under construction, apologies on the lighting as it was taken at sunset.

This will be the first Indigo Urgent Care location in Idaho, with several locations presently open in the Spokane area and in Western Washington. The company promotes their urgent care locations as convenient option for minor illnesses and injuries. Covid-19 testing is also made available at the company's facilities. 

For more information on Indigo Health, including to sign in online to any one of their locations, check out their website at https://www.indigohealth.com/

Zozo's Sandwich House to replace the now closed Azar's on N. Monroe

 Azar's was a well-known restaurant serving a menu of Greek and Middle Eastern dishes for 42 years from a building on N. Monroe St. in Spokane. However, the eatery closed for good this past weekend, with the owner now focusing on a real estate career. But the building at 2501 N. Monroe won't sit empty for very long, with a new restaurant planned to be welcoming diners once again by the end of the year, if all goes as planned.

A new locally owned and operated sandwich shop, called Zozo's Sandwich House is planning on taking over the space. They plan to do some upgrades to the building and add new decor before opening for business, likely sometime in December.

The concept of Zozo's will be a little different than most other similar establishments in the area. They tell me they plan to smoke and/or roast most of their meats including turkey, chicken, pork and a variety of cuts of beef. Some east coast style sandwiches will also be included on the menu like Italian roast pork and a variety of chicken and pork cutlet sandwiches, including a Cuban that they say will include a "twist that everyone will love". House made dips a jus will also be available.

In addition to a menu packed full of different sandwiches, Zozo's will also offer up a verity of smash burgers, healthy salad options, scratch made soups and homemade sides like a pickle pasta salad. Beer and wine as well as Vegan and gluten free options will also be available.

For more information on Zozo's Sandwich House, check out these links- https://zozossandwichhouse.com/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/zozossandwichhouse

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/zozos_sandwich_house/

Golden Rule Brake to open a new location in Post Falls

 Perhaps it's their service, longevity in the community or maybe even the cleaver and witty signs out front of all their locations, Golden Rule Brake is surely one of the most recognizable local business names in the Inland Northwest. And now they are growing and plan to expand with a new location coming soon to Post Falls.

Owner Dallas Low, posing with the coming soon sign now posted on the site in Post Falls.

Golden Rule plans to build a new construction building on the southwest side of the Seltice Way / ID 41 intersection, just off of I-90 in Post Falls. Business owner Dallas Low tells me they hope to break ground at the site in December with a current goal of opening in May of 2023. The Post Falls location will offer 7 work bays, and they do hope to someday to open at least a couple more locations but that is down the road presently. The Post Falls Golden Rule Brake will be the fourth location for business.

Golden Rule Brake was started in Low's Grandfather and his brother all the way back in 1954, meaning the company will celebrate its 69th year in 2023. The business has been family operated ever since, being handed down through generations. Even now, I'm told Low's own son is employed by the company (maybe keeping the tradition going? only time will tell).

For more info on Golden Rule Brake, including their services offered and to set an appointment online, visit their website at- http://goldenrulebrake.com

Your Mom's Soda Shop and Treats opening soon in Mead/North Spokane

 Dirty sodas are on their way to North Spokane! Dirty sodas and a whole lot more in fact will be the specialties of Your Mom's Soda Shop, which is coming soon to the Mt. Spokane/Mead area at 14017 N. Newport Hwy Suite A.

Dirty Sodas are described as fountain sodas that are mixed with syrups and cream to create unique and delicious concoctions. Additionally, the new locally owned business plans to serve mixed energy drinks, Hawaiian shaved ice, cookies, popcorn and nachos. A true snack hang-out paradise.

The business plans to offer both a drive thru and an indoor dining area for about 40 in a fun space with a modern design, a couch and photo op spots. The build out of the space is to begin soon and they hope to be open for business around Jan. or Feb. of 2023. 

Be sure to follow along their progress towards opening on- Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/yourmoms.sodashop/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/yourmoms.sodashop

General Store Ace Hardware now open in Liberty Lake

 The General Store has opened their newest "outpost" at 1425 N. Liberty Lake Rd in Liberty Lake. The store is a 14,825 Sq. Ft retail store operating as part of the Ace Hardware brand.

The store sells items from a variety of departments including tools, plumbing, electrical, paint, automotive, cleaning and more. Additionally, the store offers a garden center and like other locations of The General Store this new location has a small selection of hunting and fishing merchandise.

The General Store also operates 2 other stores in the area, which will also remain open for business. The original at 2424 N. Division and one in Spokane Valley at 1330 N. Argonne Rd.. The Liberty Lake store is currently open Mon-Sat 8-7 and Sun. 9-6. For more info on The General Store and to shop online, visit their website at http://generalstorespokane.com 

Region's only completely gluten-free restaurant opens a new location, plans to start franchising.

 After seven years of steady growth local eatery, Cole's Bakery & Cafe is poised for expansion with a new location coming to a space near Downtown Spokane and the creation of a franchise program. 

Cole's owner Jeanine Cole Smith has signed an agreement to open a coffee shop in the Catalyst Building at 601 E. Riverside, within the new South Landing Eco-District. The Catalyst Building coffee shop will offer fresh baked goods and grab-and-go items including sandwiches, protein and rice bowls, soups and salads. This location will feature entirely gluten-free foods that are made from scratch using local, seasonal ingredients. The menus will also incorporate items catering to multiple diets including vegan, dairy-free and keto. 

"The vision for the Catalyst Building promoting a clean and sustainable environment aligns well with Cole's focus on clean eating that sustains health," said owner Jeanine. Currently Cole's has already opened for business in the Catalyst Building with a temporary coffee cart to operate until the location's build out is complete. According to building permits on file with the City of Spokane indicate the shop will be just shy of 800 Sq. Ft in size.

In addition to opening a new location, Cole's has also been approved to offer franchise operations in 22 states. Jeanine stated, " from the very beginning it has been our dream to provide franchise opportunities and enable more safe places where individuals and families can share good food, regardless of their dietary needs ". Since establishing her restaurant in August of 2014, Jeanine has been working to develop a supportive framework for future franchisee's. Indvidual's who want to open Cole's restaurants will have access to custom flour blends to use in their restaurants and will get training in cooking techniques and marketing, custom recipes, guidance in how to operate a gluten-free restaurant and extensive online support.

In addition to the new location and franchising, Cole's will continue to operate its original restaurant at 521 E. Holland in North Spokane. This location offers dine-in, take-out, and drive-thru for breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to a variety of sweet treats.

For even more info on Cole's, check out their website at- http://colesbakeryandcafe.com

Mixed use project, Millennium North Hill progressing in the Garland District

 At the beginning of this week we did a brief post about the start of construction for Millennium Monroe, a new mixed-use project rising in the 2000 blk of N. Monroe St ( Read that story here! ). But, the locally based developer Millennium Northwest, LLC also has another similar project that's also moving forward only a short distance away within the Garland District.

That project is called Millennium North Hill, and they recently applied for building permits to start construction in the nearish future. A rep. of the developers tells me that they hope to break ground on this project prior to Spring of 2023, with an estimated completion date in Spring of 2024. The site will be on the eastern edge of the Garland Business District at the corner of Garland & Wall (3909 N. Wall) and will incorporate the existing former North Hill Masonic Lodge building into the plan. That building is to remain home to Synergy Real Estate and The North Hill Restaurant just as it does today.

Rendering courtesy of Millennium Northwest,LLC.

Plans call for constructing new plaza space off of Garland, which we're told North Hill restaurant hopes to use at least a portion of the new plaza for food and drink service. An addition of just over 1500 Sq. Ft. would be added to the existing structure and made available as new commercial space and connecting the project's new building with the old.

Behind the Masonic Lodge building will be a new construction building with 4 story's and 60 newly created apartments. And, just like the Millenium Monroe project, the North Hill development will have Baker Construction & Development acting as the general contractor and Bernardo Wills Architects doing the architectural work for the project.

As always, we plan to keep track of this project throughout its progression so stay tuned!

New fast casual seafood restaurant, Fish On now open in Rathdrum

A new locally owned fast casual seafood restaurant called Fish On is now open in Rathdrum. The restaurant is located at 6613 Commercial Park Ave. , just off of Hwy. 53 and near the Super 1 grocery store.

^ Photos provided by local fishermen. ^

The business has an indoor dining area for 49 and an 8-seat bar serving beer and wine, take out is also available. The menu consists of entrees like "fish on tacos", their own take on fish and chips, a poke bowl, creole octopus sandwich and a whole lot more.

For more info on Fish On, including a look at the menu check out their website at https://fishon0.webnode.page/ or on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fish_on_rathdrum/

Ground broken for Millennium Monroe; a new mixed-use project on N. Monroe St.

 Last week a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new project that will add more housing to Spokane and forever change a part of N. Monroe St. . That project is called Millennium Monroe and will be a project of local developer Millennium Northwest,LLC. , that also is planning a similar project in the Garland District, which will be included in a post of its own soon on this site.

Renderings courtesy of Millennium Northwest, LLC. 

Millenium Monroe will be located in the 2000 block of N. Monroe with a new building to be built at 2002 N. Monroe and an extensive remodel of the former car dealership / auction business next door at 2020 N. Monroe. 

The project will be built in phases with the first phase consisting of 46 apartments in the building at 2002 N. Monroe with an estimated completion date of early fall of 2023. Once fully built out the building at 2002 will consist of 80+ apartments and 3000 Sq Ft. of new commercial space on the ground floor. Altogether they hope to have both phases complete and open by the Spring of 2024.

Next door at 2020 N. Monroe plans call for converting the 30,000 Sq. Ft building into new commercial and warehouse space. A portion of this building will be occupied by Indaba Coffee, who intends to open a coffee shop and new headquarters / roasting operations there. Construction on this section of the project is currently planned to begin construction around the summer of 2023. The developers tell me they are already in negations with a number of businesses to potentially lease the remaining commercial spaces.

Baker Construction & Development will be the general contractor at Millennium Monroe, with Bernardo Wills Architects preforming the architectural design work.

Liberty Lake Juice Company opens new location in Downtown Spokane

 Locally owned Liberty Lake Juice Company is growing and is now open at their new location in Downtown Spokane. This location can be found at 180 S. Howard, at the corner of Howard & Second, additionally their original location at 1334 N. Liberty Lake Rd. in Liberty Lake is also still open for business.

According to their website Liberty Lake Juice Company serves raw fresh-pressed juices, superfood packed smoothies, Acai bowls, organic matcha green tea, lattes and organic superfood hot cocoa. They also tell me they hope to make additions to their menu in the coming months to include items like salads, power/protein balls, etc...

The business is planning to celebrate a grand opening of the new Downtown Spokane location on Oct. 15th, although they are technically open now and they offer online ordering at both locations.

For more information on Liberty Lake Juice Company and to see their menu, visit http://libertylakejuice.com

Karma Indian Cuisine & Lounge opening soon on N. Monroe

 A new Indian restaurant is on its way to a space on N. Monroe St, just a few blocks north of Downtown Spokane. Karma Indian Cuisine & Lounge is planning to open sometime around the middle of October in the former Hedge House building at 2606 N. Monroe.

The space was last a bar named Hi-Rev's that was owned by the same family that is opening Karma. The owners also own another restaurant with the Karma name in Moscow, ID and other Indian restaurants in Wenatchee and Post Falls. They say this location will serve a menu of primarily North Indian dishes.

Entrees include butter chicken, korma, vindaloo, several curry's, marsala's and more. Their menu also shows a selection of appetizers (including vegetable samosas!), breads cooked in an Indian clay oven, a few desserts and lassi (in addition to the regular Coke products, of course). Vegan and gluten free options will be available, and the restaurant will be open Tues-Sun. 11a-9p.

For more information on Karma's new restaurant in Spokane, check them out on Facebook. 

New Dutch Bros Coffee coming to the Pointe at Post Falls development

Another new location of the Dutch Bros Coffee chain is coming to the Inland Northwest, on the Idaho side of the border this time. Construction kicked off recently for a 950 Sq Ft new construction location at 6299 W. Pointe Pkwy within the Cabelas / Walmart anchored Pointe at Post Falls development.

The new location will be next to Panda Express with construction being done by general contractor NRC Construction of Hayden. There is no mention of an opening date, but the building permits currently expire in Feb. 2023 so we can give an educated guess it will open sometime this winter. This will be the 4th Dutch Bros. location in Kootenai County and according to business license filing with the City of Post Falls will be owned by franchise holder Dutch Love,LLC.

Coeur Climbing Gym planning new rock-climbing gym in Post Falls

 In 2020 a local company called Coeur Climbing Company had planned to build a new construction climbing gym on vacant land on the north side of Coeur d' Alene. But like in many other instances the pandemic put that plan on hold indefinitely.

They clearly didn't give up on the plan to bring a rock-climbing gym to Kootenai County as they recently announced their new revised plan via social media. Coeur Climbing Company now says they are leasing a large warehouse space in Post Falls' Riversbend Commerce Park for their future location, which they hope to open sometime in early 2023.

764 S. Clearwater - The building where Coeur Climbing plans to lease a portion for their new climbing gym.

Coeur Climbing Company will take over part of the building at 764 S. Clearwater Lp. . In the business's post they indicate the new facility will include 5000 Sq. Ft. of bouldering space and 1000 Sq. Ft. of roped climbing space at 24' heights. Additionally, they plan to include a yoga studio, weights and cardio equipment and training walls. Their website also mentions retail rock climbing gear and a cafe being possible.

Follow them directly for exact details as they are presently finalizing the lease on the Post Falls space. Sign up for emails on http://coeurclimbing.com or follow them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/coeurclimbing